Sheldon Richman | The Libertarian Institute

TGIF: Russia in Ukraine: Cui Bono?

by Sheldon Richman | Mar 11, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Justice, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF

I don't know if the U.S. foreign-policy elite wanted Russia to invade Ukraine -- an argument could be made for the affirmative -- but I'd hate to think it did. Yet given its long record of global mischief (a polite word for its machinations), we certainly cannot rule out the point a priori. Perhaps the best evidence in favor of the proposition is that President Biden refused to take the few simple steps that might have averted the whole thing. (The attempt would have cost nothing.) But if an invasion might have been averted and was unwanted, why was so much weaponry and other military aid...

American Infallibility

by Sheldon Richman | Mar 9, 2022 | Blog, Foreign Policy, Politics

Beneath the widespread stubborn American refusal to understand the Russian government's motives for its condemnable invasion of Ukraine is the equally widespread stubborn refusal to learn from the U.S. government's wrong moves with respect to Russia over the last 30 years. But even deeper is the widespread stubborn refusal to even entertain the possibility that the U.S. government might have made any wrong moves at all.

Bill Clinton the Horrible

by Sheldon Richman | Mar 5, 2022 | Blog

If someone has done a full and honest assessment of Bill Clinton's presidency, I would really like to see it. It is stunning how many ills Clinton's two terms in office inflicted, directly or indirectly, on the American people and the world. Some of the worst stuff happened after he left office, but make no mistake: he prepared the way. Thus it is no exaggeration to say that Clinton helped make the 21st century, in its most horrible respects, what it is. By my casual accounting, Clinton strengthened the intrusive national-"security" state, specifically regarding "domestic terrorism" (signing...

TGIF: When History Begins – Russia, Ukraine & the US

by Sheldon Richman | Mar 4, 2022 | Featured Articles, Foreign Policy, Sheldon Richman, TGIF

Contrary to what hypocritical U.S. rulers and their loyal mass media suggest, two propositions can both be -- and indeed are -- true: that Russia has grossly, brutally, and criminally mishandled the situation it has faced with respect to Ukraine, and that the U.S. government since the late 1990s has been entirely responsible for imposing that situation on Russia. If you want the fine details, you can do no better than to watch my Libertarian Institute colleague Scott Horton's excellent cataloging of the irresponsible misdeeds of Presidents Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald...

Don’t Let the US Foreign Policy Elite Off the Hook

by Sheldon Richman | Feb 27, 2022 | Blog, Foreign Policy

It would be unwise in the extreme to let our horror at Putin's invasion of Ukraine to permit us to forget the many ways in which the U.S. foreign policy establishment for over 20 years set the stage for what's happing now.

Ten Favorite Books

by Sheldon Richman | Feb 25, 2022 | Blog

Keith Knight, host of the Don't Tread on Anyone podcast, interviewed me about ten of my favorite books. Watch it here.

TGIF: On Privilege

by Sheldon Richman | Feb 25, 2022 | Economics, Featured Articles, Justice, Libertarianism, Politics, Sheldon Richman, TGIF

One of the most abused words in English is privilege. Observe how indiscriminately this word is spoken and written. For example, in some quarters, all straight white men -- without exception -- are said to be privileged, which seems absurd. Practically all we hear about these days is privilege, who has it and who doesn't. Well, not exactly -- because those who are said not to have it are often called "underprivileged." I think it was the late P. T. Bauer, the great free-market development economist, who pointed out how peculiar a word that is. Underprivileged? Wouldn't that mean...

Damn!

by Sheldon Richman | Feb 24, 2022 | Blog, Foreign Policy

Vladimir Putin's invasion and bombing of Ukraine deserve the condemnation of all decent people. Regardless of what has been going on over there, Putin did not have to do it. He had a moral obligation to deal with the issues properly. His actions cannot be excused.